EAST LANSING, Mich. (Detroit Free Press) -- Michigan State freshman guard Gary Harris will miss two to three weeks with a left shoulder sprain, the school announced today.

That's a setback for Harris and the Spartans, but it could have been much worse.

"It's a shame. Gary was playing so well, and then he goes down with a freak injury," MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo said in a released statement. "We need to get him back as soon as his injury allows, but he is one of our toughest players. I know he'll work as hard as he can on the rehab so that he can get back on the court."

Harris took a shot to the shoulder early in Tuesday's 74-70 comeback win over Boise State, leaving the game after 30 seconds of play. Izzo said after the game that the best-case scenario was a sprain and a couple weeks off. The worst case was a long absence.

Harris entered Tuesday's game leading MSU at 16 points per game. That included some late baskets in an 18-point performance in a win over No. 7 Kansas last week in Atlanta.

Harris' absence should mean more work for Russell Byrd and Brandan Kearney, both of whom reached career highs in minutes Tuesday. MSU also needs Travis Trice (concussion) back. Trice is expected to miss his fourth straight game Friday, when Oakland University visits Breslin Center.

MSU has had some serious injury scares in the past year, to go with the usual bumps and bruises. Draymond Green was thought to have a serious knee injury last season at Illinois, but it turned out to be a sprain.

Branden Dawson tore the ACL in his left knee in the regular-season finale last season and missed the postseason, hurting MSU's hopes of a Final Four run.